2024 Icelandic presidential election
![]() | This article documents a current election. Information may change rapidly as the election progresses until official results have been published. Initial news reports may be unreliable, and the last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reporting | as of 00:45 (UTC+00:00) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
![]() |
---|
![]() |
Presidential elections were held in Iceland on 1 June 2024.[1][2] Incumbent president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson announced that he would not seek a third term.[1]
Halla Tómasdóttir was elected president of Iceland, and was congratulated by former prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir.[3]
Background
The previous presidential elections on 27 June 2020 saw incumbent president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson re-elected for a second four-year term with 92% of the vote, over Guðmundur Franklín Jónsson.[4] The office of President is not term-limited; however, despite being eligible to serve a third term, Guðni announced in his New Year's address to the Icelandic people on 1 January 2024 that he would not stand for re-election again.[5]
Electoral system
The President of Iceland is directly elected by first-past-the-post voting, with a simple plurality of votes needed to win.[6] Candidates must be Icelandic citizens and at least 35 years of age on election day.[7]
On election day, polling opened at 09:00 and will run until 22:00.[8]
Candidates
Prospective presidential candidates had until 26 April 2024 to collect more than 1,500 voter signatures to secure ballot access.[9] Eighty candidates sought voter signatures by that date. The following individuals have received media attention for their potential candidacy for the position of president. On 29 April 2024, the National Electoral Commission announced which candidates had secured ballot access.
Confirmed candidates
Below is a list of verified candidates.
Candidate | Office(s) | Campaign logo | Details | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name (Age) |
Image | ||||
Arnar Þór Jónsson (53) |
Former Deputy MP for the Independence Party (2021–2024) |
Arnar Þór is a lawyer and former judge who holds the right to speak before the Supreme Court of Iceland. He resigned his seat in the Althing and his membership with the Independence Party to run for President.[10] | |||
Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir (44) |
Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir | None |
![]() |
Ásdís Rán is a model and entrepreneur. She worked as a television producer in the 1990s.[11] | |
Ástþór Magnússon (70) |
Ástþór Magnússon | None | Ástþór is a businessman, activist, and perennial candidate, having run for President of Iceland in 1996, 2004, 2012, and 2016 — he had planned to run in 2000, but failed to get the necessary qualifying signatures. He is known for his Pro-Russian views.[12][13] | ||
Baldur Þórhallsson (56) |
Baldur Þórhallsson | Former Deputy MP for the Social Democratic Alliance (2009–2013) |
![]() |
Baldur is a political science professor at the University of Iceland. He was previously a deputy member of the Althing for the Social Democratic Alliance.[14] | |
Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson (47) |
![]() |
None | Eiríkur Ingi is a fisherman who survived a sea disaster in 2012.[15] | ||
Halla Hrund Logadóttir (43) |
Halla Hrund Logadóttir | Director of Energy Affairs at Orkustofnun (since 2021) |
![]() |
Halla Hrund is the Director of Energy Affairs at the Icelandic Energy Agency, and is the first woman to hold the position. She is also an adjunct professor at Harvard University in the United States.[16] | |
Halla Tómasdóttir (55) |
Halla Tómasdóttir | None |
![]() |
Halla is a businessperson who has been CEO of The B Team since 2018. She finished as runner-up to Guðni Th. Jóhannesson in the 2016 presidential election.[17] | |
Helga Þórisdóttir (55) |
Data Protection Commissioner | Helga is the current Data Protection Commissioner and a former prosecutor.[18] | |||
Jón Gnarr (57) |
![]() |
20th Mayor of Reykjavík (2010–2014)
Other offices
|
![]() |
Gnarr is an actor and comedian who served one term as Mayor of Reykjavík for the Best Party, where his election and tenure in office made international headlines. He joined the Social Democratic Alliance in 2017.[19] | |
Katrín Jakobsdóttir (48) |
![]() |
28th Prime Minister of Iceland (2017–2024) Other offices
|
![]() |
Katrín is the former Prime Minister of Iceland, the first member of the Left-Green Movement to hold that position, overseeing a coalition government including her party, the Independence Party, and the Progressive Party. She was a member of the Althing from 2007 to 2024, and was chair of her party from 2013 to 2024. She resigned as chair of the Left-Green Movement, as a member of the Althing, and as Prime Minister to run for President.[20][21] | |
Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir (54) |
Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir | None | Steinunn Ólína is an actress, TV show host, producer and writer.[22][23] | ||
Viktor Traustason (35) |
Viktor Traustason | None | Viktor is an economist. His endorsement list was initially declared invalid, but later corrected and confirmed on 2 May.[24] |
Withdrew or failed to get ballot access
These candidates failed to collect enough signatures before the deadline expired.
- Agnieszka Sokolowska, project manager at the Capital Region Fire Service.[25]
- Angela Snæfellsjökuls Rawlings, artist-researcher, on behalf of "Snæfellsjökul fyrir forseta", a geocultural intervention to nominate the non-human candidate Snæfellsjökull.[26]
- Axel Pétur Axelsson, conspiracy theorist[27]
- Guðbergur Guðbergsson, real estate agent and former stunt man[28]
- Guðmundur Felix Grétarsson, former electrician and the world's first double-arm and shoulder transplant receiver[29]
- Húni Húnfjörð, business administrator, teacher and former basketball player[30]
- Kári Vilmundarson Hansen, disc jockey. Endorsement list declared invalid on 29 April.[31]
- Margrét Friðriksdóttir, editor. Withdrew on 28 March after seeking voter signatures for five days.[32]
- Sigríður Hrund Pétursdóttir, investor. Declared on 12 January and Withdrew on 26 April.[33]
- Tómas Logi Hallgrímsson, rescue worker. Declared on 5 January and withdrew on 20 March (endorsed Baldur Þórhallsson)[34][35]
Declined
- Alma Möller, Director of Health[36][37]
- Andri Snær Magnason, writer and a candidate in the 2016 presidential election[38]
- Björgvin Páll Gústavsson, handball player[39]
- Björn Zoëga, CEO Karolinska University Hospital[40][41]
- Dagur B. Eggertsson, former Mayor of Reykjavík[42]
- Guðmundur Franklín Jónsson, businessman and a candidate in the 2020 presidential election[43]
- Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland from 2016 to 2024[44]
- Gylfi Þór Þorsteinsson, team manager of the Icelandic Red Cross's fundraising and promotion department[45][46]
- Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, former leader of the Social Democratic Alliance, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mayor of Reykjavík[38]
- Jakob Frímann Magnússon, musical artist and MP for the People’s Party (endorsed Katrín Jakobsdóttir)[47]
- Magnús Geir Þórðarson, artistic director of the National Theatre of Iceland[38]
- Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, businessman and writer[48]
- Páll Pálsson, real estate agent[49][50]
- Róbert Spanó, former President of the European Court of Human Rights[51]
- Víðir Reynisson, police officer and the Chief superintendent of the Office of the National Commissioner of the Police[52]
- Þorgrímur Þráinsson, writer[38]
- Þórólfur Guðnason, doctor who serverd as the Chief Epidemiologist of the Icelandic Directorate of Health[53]
- Þóra Arnórsdóttir, documentary film maker, media personality and a candidate in the 2012 presidential election[38]
Campaign issues
Presidential debates have featured Iceland's membership in NATO, military aid for Ukraine, the possible sale of the state energy firm Landsvirkjun and the use of veto powers by the Presidency. Questions were also raised on whether Katrín Jakobsdóttir's background as a politician and prime minister would affect her tenure in office, to which she said that she "can rise above party politics".[9]
Opinion polls
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Opinion_polls_for_the_2024_Icelandic_presidential_election.svg/790px-Opinion_polls_for_the_2024_Icelandic_presidential_election.svg.png)
Polling firm | Fieldwork date | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arnar Þór Jónsson |
Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir |
Ástþór Magnússon |
Baldur Þórhallsson |
Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson |
Halla Hrund Logadóttir |
Halla Tómasdóttir |
Helga Þórisdóttir |
Jón Gnarr | Katrín Jakobsdóttir |
Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir |
Viktor Traustason |
Others/ Undecided | ||
Gallup | 24–31 May 2024 | 6.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 14.6 | 0.1 | 19.0 | 23.9 | 0.1 | 8.4 | 25.6 | 0.9 | 0.5 | – |
Prósent | 27–30 May 2024 | 6.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 14.6 | – | 22.0 | 23.5 | 0.4 | 9.0 | 22.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | – |
Maskína | 27–30 May 2024 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 15.4 | 0.1 | 18.4 | 24.1 | 0.3 | 9.9 | 24.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | – |
Háskóli Íslands | 22–30 May 2024 | 7.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 16.1 | 0.2 | 18.4 | 18.5 | 0.2 | 9.9 | 26.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | – |
Prósent | 21–26 May 2024 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 16.9 | 0.1 | 21.0 | 20.2 | 0.7 | 11.4 | 20.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | – |
Gallup | 17–23 May 2024 | 7 | – | – | 18 | – | 19 | 17 | – | 9 | 27 | 1 | – | 2 |
Maskína | 22–23 May 2024 | 5.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 18.2 | 0.1 | 16.6 | 18.6 | 0.5 | 12.4 | 25.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | – |
Prósent | 14–19 May 2024 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 18.2 | 0.1 | 19.7 | 16.2 | 0.2 | 13.4 | 22.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 | – |
Gallup | 10–16 May 2024 | 6 | – | – | 19 | – | 21 | 15 | – | 11 | 23 | 1 | – | 4 |
Maskína | 13–16 May 2024 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 16.2 | 0.1 | 21.8 | 14.9 | 0.2 | 12.6 | 26.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | – |
Prósent | 7–12 May 2024 | 5.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 17.9 | 0.1 | 26.0 | 12.5 | 0.5 | 13.8 | 19.2 | 1.8 | 1.5 | – |
Gallup | 3–9 May 2024 | 6 | – | – | 18 | – | 25 | 11 | – | 10 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Maskína | 30 Apr–8 May 2024 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 18.9 | 0.1 | 29.7 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 11.2 | 26.7 | 1.2 | 0.6 | – |
EMC | 2–8 May 2024 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 21.8 | 0.3 | 29.1 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 13.0 | 22.9 | 1.1 | 2.0 | – |
Prósent | 30 Apr–5 May 2024 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 20.4 | 0.2 | 29.7 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 14.7 | 21.3 | 1.9 | – | – |
Maskína | 22 Apr–3 May 2024 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 19.9 | 0.1 | 29.4 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 12.9 | 26.8 | 0.9 | – | – |
Gallup | 26 Apr–2 May 2024 | 3 | – | – | 19 | – | 36 | 4 | – | 10 | 23 | 2 | – | 2 |
Háskóli Íslands | 22–30 Apr 2024 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 23.6 | 0.1 | 27.6 | 4.5 | 0.2 | 7.4 | 29.9 | 1.3 | – | – |
Prósent | 23–28 Apr 2024 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 25.0 | – | 28.5 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 16.0 | 18.0 | 2.3 | – | – |
Maskína | 22–26 Apr 2024 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 21.2 | – | 26.2 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 15.2 | 25.4 | 1.2 | – | 0.6 |
Gallup | 17–22 Apr 2024 | 3 | – | – | 28 | – | 16 | 4 | – | 15 | 31 | 1 | – | 1 |
Prósent | 16–21 Apr 2024 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 27.2 | – | 18.0 | 5.8 | 0.1 | 17.2 | 23.8 | 2.1 | – | 0.9 |
Maskína | 12–16 Apr 2024 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 24.0 | – | 10.5 | 6.7 | – | 18.9 | 31.4 | 1.8 | – | 0.6 |
Prósent | 9–14 Apr 2024 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 25.8 | – | 10.6 | 4.3 | 0.4 | 16.8 | 22.1 | 2.9 | – | 10.5 |
Gallup | 5–11 Apr 2024 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 26 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 18 | 30 | 2 | – | 6 |
Maskína | 5–8 Apr 2024 | 3.2 | – | 0.6 | 26.7 | – | 5.7 | 7.3 | 0.4 | 19.6 | 32.9 | 1.9 | – | 1.7 |
Prósent | 20–27 Mar 2024 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 37 | – | – | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | 38 |
Results
Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Halla Tómasdóttir | 59,576 | 34.49 |
Katrín Jakobsdóttir | 44,426 | 25.72 |
Halla Hrund Logadóttir | 25,214 | 14.60 |
Jón Gnarr | 18,147 | 10.51 |
Baldur Þórhallsson | 14,148 | 8.19 |
Arnar Þór Jónsson | 8,780 | 5.08 |
Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir | 1,127 | 0.65 |
Ástþór Magnússon | 364 | 0.21 |
Viktor Traustason | 326 | 0.19 |
Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir | 318 | 0.18 |
Helga Þórisdóttir | 216 | 0.13 |
Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson | 74 | 0.04 |
Total | 172,716 | 100.00 |
Valid votes | 172,716 | 99.38 |
Invalid/blank votes | 1,070 | 0.62 |
Total votes | 173,786 | 100.00 |
Registered voters/turnout | 266,935 | 65.10 |
Source: RÚV[54] |
Reactions
Halla Tómasdóttir was elected president of Iceland, and was congratulated by former prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir.[55]
References
- ^ a b "President Will Not Seek Re-election". Iceland Review. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Icelandic president will not stand for re-election". Yahoo News. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Adam, Darren (1 June 2024). "Presidential Election 2024: Katrín concedes to Halla T - RÚV.is". RÚV. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Iceland's president re-elected with 92 percent of the vote". France 24. Agence France-Presse. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ Gunnhildur Kjerúlf Birgisdóttir (1 January 2024). "Guðni býður sig ekki fram á ný". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Republic of Iceland: Election for Icelandic Presidency". IFES Election Guide.
- ^ "Constitution". Government Offices. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Voters in Iceland are picking the new president of the rugged island near the Arctic Circle". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Close race as Iceland votes to elect new president". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Arnar Þór býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Jón Þór Stefánsson (17 March 2024). "Ísdrottningin safnar undirskriftum til að komast á Bessastaði". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ Ástþór Magnússon (2 November 2023). "Styður héraðsdómur þjóðarmorð?". Vísir.is. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Ástþór Magnússon býður sig fram á ný". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Alexander Kristjánsson (20 March 2024). "Baldur Þórhallsson býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ Sólrún Dögg Jósefsdóttir (6 April 2024). "Lifði af sjóslys og tekur nú forsetaslaginn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Árni Sæberg (7 April 2024). "Halla Hrund býður sig fram". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Ragnar Jón Hrólfsson (17 March 2024). "Halla Tómasdóttir býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ Andri Yrkill Valsson (27 March 2023). "Helga Þórisdóttir býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Jón Gnarr ætlar á Bessastaði" (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Katrín announces her candidacy for presidency". RÚV. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Iceland prime minister resigns to run for president". Reuters. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Jakob Bjarnar Grétarsson (3 April 2024). "Steinunn Ólína komin á lista yfir forsetaefni". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Jakob Bjarnar (27 March 2023). "Steinunn Ólína hálfu skrefi frá því að bjóða sig fram". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Stefánsson, Jón Þór (5 February 2024). "Viktor Traustason verður í framboði". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (1 March 2024). "Nýr forsetaframbjóðandi stígur fram". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Snæfellsjökul fyrir forseta | president". Kjósum jökul. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ Jakob Bjarnar (2 January 2024). "Axel Pétur og Dóri DNA mættir til leiks sem forsetaframbjóðendur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (11 April 2024). "Guðbergur býður sig fram og hyggst nýta embættið betur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ Árni Sæberg (3 April 2024). "Guðmundur Felix býður fram krafta sína". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (3 March 2024). "Forsetaframbjóðendur skjóta upp kollinum eins og gorkúlur á haug". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ Daðason, Kolbeinn Tumi (29 April 2024). "Bein útsending: Hvaða forsetaframboð eru gild? - Vísir". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Vésteinn Örn Pétursson (28 March 2024). "Hætt við framboð og vonast eftir þjóðhollum og guðræknum forseta". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Sigríður Hrund hætt við framboð" (in Icelandic). 26 April 2024.
- ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (12 January 2024). "Tómas Logi býður sig fram til forseta". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Árni Sæberg (20 March 2024). "Dregur framboðið til baka vegna fárra undirskrifta". Vísir.is. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (27 February 2024). "Alma Möller: "Íhuga að íhuga forsetaframboð"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Atli Ísleifsson (8 April 2024). "Framboðshugleiðingar fóru ekkert lengra en að "íhuga að íhuga"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Samkvæmisleikurinn hafinn". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Kristjana Arnarsdóttir (2 February 2024). "Björgvin Páll ætlar ekki í forsetaframboð að sinni". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Karolinskas chef överväger att ställa upp i Islands presidentval: "Positivt förvånad"". DN.se (in Swedish). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Björn hvorki á leið heim né á Bessastaði". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Dagur útilokar ekki framboð til Alþingis". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Jón Þór Stefánsson (8 December 2023). "Ætlar ekki að bjóða sig fram aftur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Guðni gefur ekki kost á sér". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Erla Hlynsdóttir (2 January 2024). "Gylfi Þór á leið undir feldinn". Heimildin (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Atli Ísleifsson (8 April 2024). "Kröftum mínum betur varið þar, að minnsta kosti að sinni". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Mun ekki gefa kost á sér". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 6 April 2024.
- ^ Alexander Kristjánsson (14 March 2024). "Ólafur Jóhann býður sig ekki fram til forseta". Vísir (in Icelandic).
- ^ Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason (18 December 2023). "Veltir framboði til forseta fyrir sér". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Atli Ísleifsson (8 April 2024). "Guðni hafi "skemmt" hugmyndir um framboð". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (9 March 2024). "Róbert Spanó tjáir sig um forsetaframboð". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (28 February 2024). ""Enginn hefur komið að máli við mig"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (28 February 2024). ""Held að þetta djobb henti mér ekki"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Forsetakosningar 2024". RUV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ Adam, Darren (1 June 2024). "Presidential Election 2024: Katrín concedes to Halla T - RÚV.is". RÚV. Retrieved 2 June 2024.